Sofa bed



May 19, 1942. P. cUTLER SOFA BED s sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1941 Illlai INVENTOR. PHILIP UZ "l ,l *l l' n,

' ATTORNEY.

f 4Z 44 50 40% Y a 15J/fa P. CUTLER May 19, 1942.

SOFA BED Filed Jan. 8, 1941 7 ,do R. Y. m @m N www NL WIT A D1 ..-W m f UM #EMP 1 r I l.

P. CUTLER May 19, 1942,

SOFA BED 3 Sheets-Sh'eetl 3 Filed Jan. 8, 1941 INQENTOR. n PHILIP CUZLER v BY ATTORNEY.

Patented May 19, 1942 UNITED STATESA PAT-sur orties SOFA BED l Philip Cutler, New York, N. Y.

Application January 8, 1941, Serial No. 373,632

7 Claims.

rlhis invention relates generally to a sofa bed having end members and an inclined back member, and has as a main object means for converting the same into a double bed by releasing the back member and allowing the same to pivot outwardly and downwardly about the endmembers whereby the back member forms an adjacent bed.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a sofa bed wherein the back member is completely separable from the horizontal portion to form a companion or twin bed therewith` A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a convertible sofa bed which is economical to manufacture, easy to operate, composed .of a minimum number of parts and which is adapted to furnish an article of furniture of aesthetic appearance.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claims.

Accompanying this specication are drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein corresponding reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing my construction assembled in the form of a sofa bed.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of Figure l along the plane 2-2 thereof.

Figure 3 is an end view of the sofa bed partly in section showing progressive positions of the back member of the sofa bed toward attain# ment of a horizontal position.

Figure 4 is a plan View of the sofa bed with the back member in extended and horizontal position.

Figure 5 is a rear view of the sofa bed with the back member in extended and horizontal position.

Fig. 6 is a partial plan view of one end of the back member frame.

Figure 7 is a partial view in perspective of one of the guide ways for the back member secured to an end member of the sofa bed.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view showing the connection between the end members of the soia bed and the main frame.

In accordance with the invention and in accordance with the preferred form shown in the drawings, the sofa bed generally indicated by numeral Ii) consists of end members II and I2; a main stationary frame I3; a back frame I4;

forward and rear ornamental members I5, I6 and I5a, Ia respectively depending from the end members Il and I2; seat or main frame cushions Il; back frame cushions I8; and front and rear castors I9, I9 and 23, 20 depending from the bottom transverse angles 39, 30 of the main frame which latter is now to be described.

The main frame I3 is comprised of a top front horizontal angle and a rear top horizontal angle 25, 25 while numeral 26 represents a bottom front horizontal angle and 21 represents a bottom rear horizontal angle. A front stiffening upright 28 is disposed between the front top and bottom horizontal flanges 25 and 25. Joining the ends of the top horizontal angles are transverse angles 29, 29 and joining the ends of the bottom horizontal angles are transverse angles 30, 35, the latter being extended rearwardly beyond hori-- zontal angle 29 to accommodate Ycastors 20, 20 as best shown in Figure 2. There are four vertical angles each represented by numeral 3| disposed between the top and bottom transverse angles 2B and 35.

A front wall or panel 34 is applied to the main frame and is hinged thereto whereby an entrance may be made into the interior of the frame for storage purposes. Thus, a latch 32 is secured to the top front horizontal angle 25 and is adapted to be in detachable engagement with a hasp 33 secured to the inner surface of the front Wall of panel 34, the latter being hingedly secured near the lower edge by hinges 35 to the bottom front horizontal angle 26. By raising latch handle 31 projecting above the upper wall of angle 25, the latch nger becomes free of the hasp 33 thereby permitting the panel 34 to fall outwardly about hinges 35. The panel is provided with conventional supporting chains 35d at each end, said chains being preferably attached to the front uprights 3l. To close panel 34, it is Amerely necessary to swing the same into vertical position for automatic latching.

Conventional bedding springs are drawn across the top of the main frame such as springs 39 drawn between the top transverse angles 29, 29 While the bottom of the 'main frameis formed by the use of three transverse strips 40 spaced apart and extending from the bottom front horizontal angle 26 to beyond the rear horizontal angle -2I, the said strips penetrating the angle 21 at the vertical Wall thereof at openings 43. The strips 4D terminate rearwardly in brackets 4i to support a shelf 42 for the back cushions I8 when the sofa bed is used as a sofa. Across the transverse strips 45 are elongated boards 44 forming the flooring of thestorage compartment. The end walls of the compartment are formed by the end members II and I2 of the studio bed and are secured to the main frame by means ofconventional bolts or studs 45 proceeding from the end members II and IZ and penetrating 'the corner vertical angles 3l, the ends of the said studs 45 being held to the angles 3| by nuts 46 as shown in Figure 8.

Back frame I4 is comprised of upper longitudinal angles 6I, 6I; end transverse short angles B2, 62; a brace 63 between angles 62, 62 and conventional bedding springs 64 drawn between the transverse angles 82, 62. Near each of the ends of horizontal angles 6|, 6I is a leg angle 65 secured thereto by means of a pivot 12, the transversely opposite leg angles being joined by base angles 66 to which castors 61 are mounted. A U-shaped operating bar 69 is secured tothe upper horizontal angles 6I, 6| at the leg portions by pivots 10, 10, the said operating bar being connected to the frame legs 65, 65 by means of operating rods 1I, 1 I whereby the legs 65 are forced to collapse and to be vertically extended by movement of the base portion of operating bar 69. Links 13, 13 are secured to the legs 65, 65 to which operating rods 1|, 1I are secured, the said links 13, 'I3 at the opposite ends being secured -to locking bars 14, 14. Locking bars 14, 14 intermediate the ends thereof are pivotally secured to the transverse angles 62, 62 at pivots 15, 15, the opposite ends of the said bars 14 having locking projections 16, 16 which penetrate holes 11, 11 in the transverse angles 62, 62 as best shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. The legs 65 at the upper ends thereof adjacent the pivots 12 are provided with inclined clearance cuts 18 so that when the legs 65 are in collapsed position, they are permitted to be nested under the horizontal angles 6|, 6I. Furthermore, when the legs 65 are in vertical or outwardly inclined and maximum outstretched position as a result of the movement of operating bar 69 shown in Figure 5, locking projections 16, 16 are disengaged from holes 11, 11.

The back or movable frame I4 is adapted to slidably engage the end members II and I2 by means of a pair of aligned trunnions 68, 68 extending at the ends of the lower horizontal angle 6I, the said trunnions slidably engaging a pair of opposing guide members 50 secured to the inner walls of the end members adjacent the rear ends. Each of the guide members consists of an elongated and rearwardly inclined track portion 51, the inner wall I of which is curved forwardly at the upper end as at 52 and continued to form a horizontal supporting track portion 53.

The outer wall 55 of track 51 is spaced from and parallel with inner wall 5|, the outer wall 55 having an overhanging top strip 54, whereby each trunnion 68 is maintained in the track, while 5B is a guard member for the tracks on the inner walls of members II and I2 all as shown in Figure '7. An end stop 56 for trunnions 68, 68 is preferably provided at the bottom of each track 51 so that frame I4 may be supported in inclined upright; position, while end stop 56' at the end of the horizontal track portion 53 prevents trunnion 68 from further movement. It is unnecessary to utilize end stop 56 because the rear horizontal angle 25 of frame I3 would abut the lower or forward horizontal angle 6I of the rear frame I4. Trunnions 68, 68 are rotatable and movable within inclined tracks 51, and movable along track portions 53. On the rear edges of end members II and I2 are snap fasteners 59 adapted to engage spring tongs 59 situated near the rear edges of the transverse angles 62, these tongs 59 being below projections 16 of locking bars 14 as best shown in Figure 4, the said projections 16 being adapted to engage slots 60 on the inner walls of end members II and I2 for housewife or operator is not taxed. The party who desires to make use of the sofa bed as a twin bed or two independent beds, stands -behind the structure and applies outward pressure on operating member 63 thereby withdrawing legs 65 from collapsed position into rigid open position by the operation of rods 1 I. Links 13 cause the projections 16 of locking bars 14 to become disengaged from slots 60. At this stage of operation, while the legs are in maximum distended position, the rear frame I4 is held in place by the engagement of tongs 59 and snaps 59. However, by applying slight downward pressure on the rear frame I4, the tongs are disengaged and the frame falls outwardly and downwardly by the force of its weight about the trunnions 58 at the lower end of tracks 51, the operator controlling such movement. This rotation is mounted to continue downwardly until the casters 61, 61 mounted on the two front legs 65 touch the floor. In such position, the casters 61, 61 serve as fulcrums and the forward legs as lifting levers whereby upon application of slight downward pressure on the rear of frame I4, trunnions 68, 68 are forced upwardly along tracks 51. In the upward course of the trunnions, the lower end of the mattress or mattress cushions I8, normally resting on platform 42 is engaged by lifter projections I8', I8 situated near the ends of the lower or forward horizontal angle 6I whereby the mattress I8 is carried along with the displacement of frame I4 and properly spaced thereon.

When frame I4 has reachedits iirst horizontal position and is resting on legs 65, trunnions 68 appear at the upper end of the outer wall 55 in track 51 and the frame I4 is spaced from the stationary frame I3. At this time frame I4 may be removed from frame I3 by a, slight lift and rearward movement to clear the top of walls 55. Upon inward movement of the rear frame I4, trunnions 68 engage the^horizontal track -portions 53 until angle 6I abuts angle 25 thereby bringing about a twin bed arrangement.

In order to return the rear frame I4 to its upright position, it is pulled outwardly so that trunnions 68 are positioned against wall 55 at the top of tracks 51. Thereafter, the frame is slightly lifted from the rear utilizing the casters 61 `as fulcrums whereupon the trunnions 68 descend down tracks 51 by the action of gravity thereby carrying frame I4 into an inclined upright position. The frame is engaged against the end members II and I2 by the engagement of tongs 59 in snaps 59. Thereafter, operating bar 69 is forced inwardly away from the operator to collapse legs 65 and in so doing projections I6 of locking bars 14 penetrate openings 11 in transverse angles 62 to engage slots Bil for locking the frame in end members II and I2.

'I'he sofa bed above described has as one of its chief features the facility with which it is convertible either into a twin bed or anindependent and detached single bed and vice versa. This feature is accomplished by the construction and position of the track members secured to the inner walls of end members II and I2. Moreover, the permanent locking means between the rear frame I4 and the end members I I and I2 are -controlled `by the opening and closing of rear frame legs 65. Furthermore, the bedding compartment of the studio bed is accessible through front panel 34 which may be in the form of a drawer instead of in the form of a compartment closed by a panel 34. The lifters I8 are significant in that the mattress I8 is properly spaced on frame I 4 when the latter is drawn to horizontal position. The mattress support @2 on the other hand is signicant when rame I4 is brought from the horizontal to the upright position, for during this operation mattress i8 slides downwardly and cornes to rest on platform 42.

In the opening of legs 65, although the drawings,especially Figure 5, show these legs when distended to be in vertical position, nevertheless the said legs may assume an outwardly inclined position to prevent buckling thereof. The outward inclined position of leg 65 may be brought about by exerting more outward pressure on operating bar 69 as shown in Figure 5, the outward position of legs 55 being limited by the engagement of the ends of locking bars Ul against transverse angles S2,

I wish it understood that minor changes and variations in the integration', location, material, combination and sub-combination of parts, may

all be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a sofa bed having end supporting members, a main stationary frame secured thereto,

a rear upright frame swingably and slidably secured at one end to said end supporting members, collapsible legs having rollers for said rear frame, means to detachably secure the rear frame at the other end to said supporting members, the rear frame when released from said securing means being swingable outwardly to touch the floor on the rollers of the forward legs during distention a rear upright frame at the lower end being swingably and slidably engageable with said supporting members, collapsible supporting means carried by said rear frame, locking means to detachably secure the upper portion of the rear v upright frame to said supporting members and thereof, the said rollers serving as fulcrums to slide the rear frame upwardly to horizontal position adjacent the main frame.

2. In a soia bed having end supporting members, a main stationary frame secured thereto, a rear upright frame swingably and slidably secured at the lower end to said end supporting members, collapsible legs having rollers for said rear frame, means to detachably secure the upper end of the rear frame to said supporting members and being partly operable by the opening and closing of said collapsible legs, the rear frame, during the distention of the legs opening said securing means being swingable outwardly to touch the oor on the rollers of the forward legs, the said rollers serving as fulcrums to slide the rear frame upwardly to horizontal position adjacent the rear frame.

3. In a sofa bed having end supporting members, a main stationary frame secured thereto, a rear upright frame having collapsible legs with rollers on the ends thereof, guiding means on the end supporting members to swingably and slidably secure the lower end of said rear upright frame, means to detachably secure the rear -upright frame at the upper end to said supporting members partly operable by the movement of the collapsible legs, the rear upright frame when released from said securing means during distention of the legs being swingable` outwardly to bring the rollers of the forward legs into contact with the floor, the said rollers serving as fulcrums to slide the rear frame upwardly on the said guiding means to horizontal position adjacent the frame.

4. In a sofa bed having end supporting members, a main stationary frame secured thereto,

being operable by the opening and closing of said collapsible supporting means to permit the outward rotation of the rear frame to bring a portion of the supporting means into contact with the oor, the same serving as fulcrums to slide the rear frame upwardly to horizontal position adjacent the stationary frame, means to horizontally slide the rear frame to desired position adjacent the stationary frame'.

5. In a sofa bed having end supporting members, a main stationary frame secured thereto, a detachable rear upright frame at the lower end being swingably and slidably engageabl'e with said supporting members, collapsible supporting means carried by said rear frame, locking means to detachably secure the upper portion of the rear upright frame to said supporting members and being operable by the opening and closing of said collapsible supporting means to permit the outward rotation of the rear frame to bring a portion of the supporting means int-o contact with the floor, the same serving as fulcrums to slide the rear frame upwardly to horizontal position adjacentthe stationary frame, means to horizontally slide the rear frame to desired position adjacent the stationary frame,

6. In a sofa bed having end supporting members, a main stationary frame secured thereto, a rear upright frame at the lower end being swingably and slidably engageable with said supporting members, collapsible supporting means carried by said rear frame, locking means to detachably secure the upper portion of the rear upright frame to said supporting members and being operable by the opening and closing of said collapsible supporting means to permit the outward rotation of the rear frame to bring a portion of the supporting means into contact with the floor, the same serving as fulcrums to slide the rear frame upwardly to horizontalrposition adjacent the stationary frame, a supporting platform carriedby the stationary frame to support a mattress for the rear frame in upright position, lifting means carried by the rear frame adapted to centrally position the said mattress on the rear frame during the course thereof to horizontal position.

'7. In a sofa bed having end supporting members, a main stationary frame secured thereto, a rear upright frame at the lower end being swingably and slidably engageable with said supporting members, collapsible supporting means carried by said rear frame, locking means to detachably secure the upper portion of the rear upright frame to said supporting members and being operable by the opening and closing of said collapsible supporting means to permit the outward rotation of the rear frame to bring a portion of the supporting means into contact with the floor, the same serving as fulcrums to slide the rear frame upwardly to horizontal position adjacent the stationary frame, a compartment within the stationary frame having an opening intermediate the front edges of the supporting members.

PHILIP CU'I'LER. 

